THE skies lit up with colour as a North-East city’s new arts hub was officially opened in spectacular fashion.

A specially-commissioned performance delivered by outdoor theatre company Periplum featured dozens of participants and was watched by more than 1,000 in Sunderland on Thursday night.

The performance, Fireflight, was commissioned by the Cultural Spring and Sunderland Music, Arts and Culture (MAC) Trust and officially opened The Fire Station after a £3.5m transformation.

After standing empty for 22 years, The Fire Station has been transformed into a bar and bistro, drama studio, dance studio and heritage centre, thanks to £2.4m of National Lottery funding awarded through the Heritage Lottery Fund. The MAC Trust won the funding as part of its drive to create a cultural quarter centred on the 110-year-old building.

Fireflight was the culmination of a £120,000, six-month project re-interpreting the legend of the Lambton Worm. Community workshops took place across the city in preparation for the performance, led by Periplum’s three delivery partners – Live Theatre, Dance City and Sunderland Music Hub.

The performance came immediately after pop star Pixie Lott had helped Sunderland Mayor Coun Doris McKnight switch on the city’s Christmas lights.

And it was followed by Fire Finale, a dance and pyrotechnics performance, in front of The Fire Station. Almost 100 local people performed in Fireflight and Fire Finale, and about 3,000 people watched the latter performance, which was unticketed.

Helen Green, Director of The Fire Station, said: “What a fantastic way to officially open. It was a memorable night and it was great to work so closely with two of The Fire Station’s partners, Dance City and Live Theatre, who both have studios in the building. The Fire Station is all about taking part – and it was encouraging to see so many Wearsiders performing in Fireflight and Fire Finale and enjoying themselves while doing so.

“Tonight’s celebration was about the opening of The Fire Station, but also what it represents – the huge changes in Sunderland where a real cultural momentum is building. Becoming City of Culture in 2021 would be the icing on the cake, but win or lose, people are starting to realise that Sunderland is going places.”

“It was an amazing show, something very special,” added Emma Horsman, Director of the Cultural Spring. “The audience loved it and I know the local participants thoroughly enjoyed being part of a brilliant experience.

“There was a real buzz about the performance, and in Sunderland tonight, and we’re just pleased and proud that the Cultural Spring played a part in a great night for the city.”

Funding for Fireflight and the Fire Finale came from the Cultural Spring, MAC Trust, the Arts Council’s Grants for the Arts scheme and grants from Tyne and Wear Metro, Sunderland BID and Gentoo. Dance City, Live Theatre and Sunderland Music Hub also made contributions.

The Cultural Spring is an Arts Council England funded project working to increase arts participation in Sunderland and South Tyneside. The project was for an initial three years, but it then received a further £1m, allowing the initiative to continue for another three years. The project’s four partners are the University of Sunderland; The Customs House in South Shields, the MAC Trust and Sangini, a women’s health charity.